Game apparatus.



Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.INVINTCR WI TNESBIS A TTOIN I Y lmmmcmmmmmwmtg A. DE MEURISSE. GAME APPARATUS.

urucuron rum) 11.27. 1909.

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filNvEvllloR ATTORNEY ANDREW. s4 munm cc.. murro-umouuwnms WAEHINGTON. u. c.

UNTTE SES ICE.

ALFRED DE MEURISSE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED DE MnUnIssE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the bowling alley type of game apparatus, wherein are employed a suitable bed or table over which balls may be rolled by the players, and a series of pins arranged to be knocked down by the action of the balls under the control of the players.

The object of my invention, as generally stated, is to provide, in a game apparatus of this type, a novel and improved construction and organization of parts, first: whereby the pins may rest normally in an upright position from which they may be easily knocked down by the action of a ball; secondly: whereby the pins may be readily elevated to the upright position after they have been knocked down; thirdly: whereby the action of one pin, in falling from its upright to its knocked-down position, will carry with it one or more additional pins; fourthly: whereby, by the adjustment of certain parts, various changes may be effected in the operation of certain pins in carrying with them certain other pins in moving from their upright to their knocked down positions; and fifthly: whereby, by the adjustment of certain parts, each pin may be separately knocked down without disturbing the positions of the other pins.

Having this general object in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the end of the table carrying the pins and the other parts connected thereto. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is a vertical section showing one of the pins and its Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1909.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909. Serial No. 474,373.

operating plunger. F 5 is a rear view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through parts of the table and the cushion pads, showing the plungers for knocking down the pins, and adjuncts. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 77 of Fig. 5.

8 designates a suitable elongated bed or table, over which a ball 9 is adapted to be rolled by the players. The table 8 is preferably arranged on an incline, as shown, and it is provided with upwardly-extending side walls 10' to prevent the ball or balls 9 from rolling laterally from the table. The lower end of the table is provided with a wall 11, preferably a cushion strap positioned to receive the ball or balls 9 when they roll clownwardly upon the table 8 to the lower end thereof. The table 8 may be of any desired length, and it may be supported in any desirable manner. In the present instance I have shown the table provided with legs 12 which support it a suitable distance above the floor. Formed on or secured to the upper end of the table is an end board 13 which extends between the sides 10, and which also extends above the top of the table 8.

Extending upwardly from the end board 13 are pins let, seven in number, arranged in a row transversely of the table 8. Each pin comprises a body portion 15, shaped to simulate a pin of the well-known ten-pin game, and a downwardly extending arm 16 secured to the body 15. The lower end of the arm 16 of each pin 1a is pivoted to a rod 17 which extends through bearings 18 on the board 13. Each pin l l extends forwardly of its pivot and rests normally against a head 19 on the rearward end of a plunger 20 which extends freely through an opening in the board 13 parallel to the face of the table 8. The forward end of each plunger 20 is provided with a head 21, and the distance between the heads 19 and 21 of each plunger 20 is greater than the thick ness of the board 13, thus permitting free longitudinal movement of the plungers 20 within their openings in the board 13. hen a pin 14L rests against the head 19 of a plunge 20, the head 19 is pressed against the rearward face of the board 13 and the head 21 is projected forwardly of the forward face of the board 13. It will thus be seen that if the plunger 20 be projected rearwardly by the impact of the ball 9 against its head 21, the head 19 of the plunger will move the opposing pin 1% rearwardly on its pivot, and the action of the plunger 20, together with the weight of the pin 11, will cause the pin to move from its normal or upright position shown by full lines in Fig. 3 to a knockeddown position shown. by dotand-dash lines therein.

hen each pin 11 is moved to the knockeddown position. shown by dot-and-dash lilies in Fig. 3, it falls upon and is supported by a cushion strap 22, which extends parallel to the row of pins 1 1, and has its ends secured to projections on. a frame The frame 23 is hinged, as at 21, to the board 13. The part of the frame 23 extending rearwardly from the hinge 24K is heavier than. the part of the frame 23 extending forwardly from said hinge; therefore the frame 23 rests normally in the horizontal position shown by full lines in Fig. 3, the forward portion of the frame abutting against the bottom of the board 13 and limiting the downward movement of the main body of the frai'ne. By moving the frame 23 from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown by dotand-dash lines therein, any pins that have been previously knocked down and are resting upon the strap 22, may be elevated or returned to the normal upright position in which they rest against the heads 19 of the plungers 20, and at the same time the plunger, 20 of the knocked down pins are projected for ardly through their, openings in the board 13 by the engagement of the pins 11 therewith.

As suitable means for raising the frame 23 to return to normal position the knockeddown pins 11, I provide a hand lever 25, ar anged at the forward or lower on d of the table 8. This lever 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to one leg 12 of the table, and connected to the lever is one end of a cord or wire 27, which extends over pulleys 28 on the under side of the table 8; thence to and around a pulley 29 which is supported by a bracket 30 on transverse bars 31 extending between the legs 12 at the upper end of the table 8; and thence to an arm which extends forwardly from the frame 23 and to which the other end of the cord or wire 27 is secured. The position of the pulley 29 with relation to the arm 32 is such that when the lever 25 is moved outwardly from the table 8 it will draw upon the wire 27 and pull down the arm 32, thus raising the frame from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown by dot-and-dash lines therein, and at the same 1 time raise the knocked-down pins from the position shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 3 to the normal position shown by full lines therein. After the knocked-down pins have been elevated to the normal position just described, and the lever 25 is released, the frame will, by. its own weight, return to its normal horizontal position shown by full lines in the drawings, and at the same time return the lever 20 to its normal or operative position for a succeeding operation.

Secured to the forward face of the board 13 on each side of each head 21 of each plunger 20, is a cushion pad 33, which may be constructed of any suitable yielding material; and when the plungers are projected forwardly by the pins let, the heads 21 on the plungers 20 will extend forwardly of the forward. faces of the cushion pads 33. It will thus be seen that when the ball 9 is rolled over the top of the table 8 toward the heads 21 of the plungers 20, the ball 9 will strike a pad 33 and be cushioned. thereby if the ball does not strike a head 21 of one of the plungers 20. Each plunger 20 is provided with a collar 34L of yielding material surrouiuling the same between its head 21 and the forward face of the board 13, which forms a stop to act against the forward face of the board 13 and limit the rearward movement of the plunger 20 when it is projected rearwardly by the action of the ball 9, the impact of the ball against the head 21 being cushioned by the action of the yielding collar 34.

The pins 11 are numbered l (t. 777 (C 77 C )7 (t 6 77 {U161 4 7 77, i 77 13e ing the center pin, 5, 3 and 1, respectively, being the three pins on one side of the center pin, and (3, a, and 2, respectively, being the three pins on the other side of the center pin, as shown. The vertical arm 16 of each of the pins and 1 is provided with a horizontal bar which extends beyond the sides of its arm. 16. The outer ends of the bar 35 carried by the pin 3 are in line with and inwardly of brackets 36 extending from the arms 16 of the pins 1 and 5, whereby, when the pin 3 is knocked down, its bar 35 will strike against the brackets 36 and thereby knock down the pins 1 and 5 with the pin 3. The outer ends of the bar carried by the pin a are in line with and inwardly of brackets 37 extending from the arms 16 of the pins 2 and 6, whereby, when the pin 1 is knocked down, its bar will strike against the brackets 37 and thereby knock down the pins and (5 with the pin 1. These bars 35 are each detachably secured to the arms 16, each bar 35 being inserted into a bracket 38 on the arm 16 and held therein by a pin 39 carried by a spring 10 on the arm 16 and extending through the bracket 38 and into an opening in the bar 35.

From this construction it will be seen that by pressing the spring 40 outwardly, the pin 39 may be withdrawn from the opening in the bar 35, thereby freeing the bar and permitting its detachment from the arm 16.

TV hen the bars 35 are in place upon the arms 16 of the pins 3 and 4, the pins 1 and 5 will be knocked down by the knocking down of the pin 3, or the pins 1 and 5 may be knocked down independently of each other and of the pin 3; and the pins 2 and 6 will be knocked down by the knocking down of the pin 4, or the pins 2 and 6 may be knocked down independently of each other and of the pin 4.

Arranged directly in the rear of the arm 16 of the center pin 7 is an arm 41 which extends upwardly from a bar 42 which is hinged to the frame 23 as at 43, and which is held normally upright by the action of suitable springs 45 surrounding the pins of the hinges 43. The bar 42 is connected to the bars 35 by chains 46; and the position of the arm 41 with relation to the arm 16 of the center pin 7 is such that when the center pin is knocked down it will engage the arm 41 and move it and therewith the bar 42 rearwardly on the hinges 43. The rear ward movement of the bar 42 causes the chains 46 to pull rearwardly the bars 35 and therewith the pins 1, 3, and 5, and 2, 4 and 6, thus bringing to the knockeddown position all the pins by the knocking down of the center pin 7.

The arm 41 is detachably secured to the bar 42 by a set-screw 47 extending through the arm 41 and into the bar 42. By removing the set screw 47 the arm 41 may be readily detached from the bar 42.

By detachably securing the bars 35 to the arms 16 of the pins 3 and 4, and by detachably securii'ig the arm 41 to the bar 42, I am enabled to make the following combinations:First: \Vhen the arm 41 is secured to the bar 42 and the bars 35 are secured to the arms 16 of the pins 3 and 4, the pins .1, 2, 5, and 6 may be knocked down inde pendently of each other and of the pins 3,4, and 7 the knocking down of the pin 3 will cause the pins 1 and 5 to be knocked down; the knocking down of the pin 4 will cause the pins 2 and 6 to be knocked down; and the knocking down of the center pin 7 will cause all the pins to be knocked down. Secondly: By removing the arm 41 from the bar 42, the pins 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 may be knocked down independently of each other and of the pins 3 and 4; the knocking down of the pin 3 will cause the pins 1 and 5 to be knocked down; and the knocking down of the pin 4 will cause the pins 2 and 6 to be knocked down. Thirdly: By detaching the bars 35 from the arms 16 of the two pins 3 and 4, all the pins may be knocked down independently of each other.

In order to prevent the interference of the arm 41 and bar 42 with the other parts of the apparatus when the frame 23 is raised to return the pins 14 to their upright or normal position, I attach one end of a chain 48 to a pin 49 projecting from the bar 42, and the other end of the chain 48 to the bracket 30. It will thus be seen that when the frame 23 is raised to raise the pins 14 as previously explained, the chain 48 will draw the bar 42 and therewith the arm 41 outwardly against the action of the springs 45.

The upper ends of the pins 3, 4 and 7 are provided with suitable weights to enable them to more efiectually carry with them when they are knocked down other pins of the device, as hereinbefore explained. Arranged above the pins 14 is a signboard 50, which is supported by standards 51 rising from the sides of the table 8. On this signboard 50 is indicated the value of each pin, the value of the center or king pin being four, and the value of each additional pin being one, thus indicating that, in playing the game, four should be scored if the center pin is knocked down, and one should be scored for each of the other pins. Extending upwardly from each side of the upper end of the table 8 is a suitable guard screen 52, which prevents the balls from leaving the table in their rebound after striking either a pllunger for one of the pins or a cushion pat.

In playing the game, the players stand at the lower end of the table 8 and roll the balls over the table with a view of striking the head 21 of one of the plungers 20 and knocking down one of the pins 14.

The game may be played in many different ways. When the arm 41' is in place upon the bar 42 and the bars 35 are in place upon the pins 3 and 4, the game may be played and scores made very similar to the well known ten-pin game in which a strike and a spare can be made. That is to say, if two balls are allowed a player and with the first ball the center or king pin is knocked down, thereby carrying with it all the other pins, a strike is made; and if the strike is not made with the first ball and with the second ball the player knocks down the pins not knocked down with the first ball, a spare is made. Thus counts and scores can be made in accordance with the rules for counting and scoring in the common and well known game of bowling or ten-pins. By removing the bars 35 from the pins 3 and 4, a call pin game may be played; that is to say, each player, before rolling the ball, will be required to name the pin that is intended to be knocked down,

and should any pin other than the pin called be knocked down, the player will not score.

It will of course be perfectly obvious that the manner of playing the game and scoring is capable of wide variation; and by detaching one or both of the bars 35 or the arm tl different combinations hereinbefore referred to may be made.

I claim 1. The combination of a table and pins extending above the table and having their lower ends pivotally connected thereto, said pins resting normally in a position extending angularly forward of their pivots, and being rearwardly movable to a knocked down position by a forward impact of the ball.

2. The combination of a table and pins extending above the table and having their lower ends pivotally connected thereto, said pins resting normally in a vertically inclined position extending forwardly of their pivots and being rel rwardly movable to a knocked down position by a forward impact of the ball, resilient means to receive said pins in the knocked down position, and means for raising said pins to normal position.

3. The combination of a table and a series of pins extending above the table, a transversely-disposed board to which said pins near their lower ends are hingedly connected, said pins resting normally in a verticallyinclined position extending forwardly of their pivots, a series of independent plungers for each pin passing through apertures in said board, and adapted to be actuated in a rearward direction by an impact of the ball delivered in a direction for ard of the pin, and to be restored to normal operative position by restoring the pin to normal position.

4:. The combination of a table and pins extending above the table and having their lower ends pivotally connected thereto, said pins resting normally in a position extending forwardly of their pivots and being rearwardly movable to a knocked down position, independently movable plnngers arranged to act upon said pins and to be acted upon by a ball rolled over said table, and cushion pads adjacent said plungers.

The combination of a table having an end wall projecting above the top thereof, a plunger extending through an opening in the end wall and having a head on each end tha'eof, the distance between the heads of the plunger being greater than the thickness of the wall through which the plunger extends, and a movable pin extending above the table and resting normally against the rearward end of the plunger.

(3. The combination of a table having an end wall projecting above the top thereof, a plunger extending through an opening in the end wall and having a head on each end thereof, the distance between the heads of the plunger being greater than the thickness of the wall through which the plunger extends, a pin resting normally in an upright position against the rearward end of the plunger and movable from the upright to a knocked down position, and means for elevating said pin from the knocked down to the upright position.

7. The combination of a table having an end wall projecting above the top thereof, a plunger extending through an opening in the end wall and having a head on each end thereof, the distance between the heads of the plunger being greater than the thickness of the wall through which the plunger extends, a pin resting normally in an upright iosition against the rearward end of the plunger and movable from the upright to a knocked dmvn position, a pivoted frame positioned to engage and elevate said pin from the knocked down to the upright position, and means for operating said frame.

8. The combination of a table having an end wall projecting above the top thereof, a plunger extending through an opening in the end wall and having a head on each end thereof, the distance between the heads of the plunger being greater than the thickness of the wall through which the plunger extends, a movable pin extending above the table and resting normally against the rearward end of the plunger, and cushion pads on the forward face of said wall laterally of said plunger.

S). The combination of a table, a series of pins extending above the table in a vertically-inclined position, means to pivotally support the lower ends of the pins in such inclined position, independent means for knocking down each of said pins by an impact blow delivered against the pin on the side of its smaller angle of inclination, and detachable means actuated by a knock down of the center pin in the series for knocking down the next contiguous pin successively in the entire series.

10. The combination of a table, pins resting normally in an upright position and positioned to be knocked down by the action of a ball rolled over the table, a bar detachably secured to one pin, and a bracket projecting from another pin and positioned to be engaged by said bar when the pin carrying the bar is knocked down.

11. The combination of a table, pins resting normally in an upright position and positioned to be knocked down by the action of a ball rolled over the table, a hinged bar, an arm projecting from said bar and positioned to be engaged by a pin when it is knocked down and rock said bar on its hinge, and means operated by the rocking of said bar for knocking down another pin.

12. The combination of a table, pins rest-- ing normally in an uprightposition and positioned to be knocked down by the action of a ball rolled over the table, a hinged bar, an arm projecting from said bar and positioned to be engaged by a pin when it" is knocked down and rock said bar on its hinge, means operated by the rocking of said bar for knocking down another pin, and

10 means operated by the knocking down of the last named pin for knocking down an other pin.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 25th day of January A. D. 1909.

ALFRED DE MEURISSE.

Vitnesses A. M. BIDDLE', R. A. DUNLAP. 

